Rann of Kutch
| Rann of Kutch | |
|---|---|
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Indomalayan |
| Biome | flooded grasslands and savannas |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 27,454 km2 (10,600 mi2) |
| Countries | |
| States (India), Provinces (Pakistan) | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Relatively stable/intact |
| Protected | 20,946 km2 (76%) |
The Rann of Kutch (IPA: [ɾən...kət͡ːʃʰ]) is a large area of salt marshes located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, and spans the border between India and Pakistan. Most of the region is located in the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat, with a minor portion extending into the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is further sub-divided geographically into the Great Rann and Little Rann.
The region used to be part of low lying peneplain submerged under the Arabian Sea, and when the waters receded, it left behind the salt marshes, which formed the Rann of Kutch. The Luni River flowed into the Rann of Kutch, however when the hydrography changed when the Rann dried up, the Luni ended up as an inland river flowing into the Thar desert to the north.